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Following is a transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So, to the media after attending the special meeting of Legislative Council Panel on Information Technology and Broadcasting today (October 26):
Reporter: Mr So, why did you think the recording and funding issue are two separate things? Why do you not see …
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development: It was indicated to me by Mr (Albert) Cheng at the meeting that the tape that he played, the audio file I should say, relates to something that happened in June 2011. When he came up to me, the topic of discussion was actually about the injection of capital by the shareholders of the company. I indicated very clearly that it is the licensee, the company itself that is responsible to the Government to discharge its responsibility in accordance with the terms of the license. As to the injection of capital by individual shareholders, that is not something that the regulatory agency will look into. That is a matter entirely within the management and shareholders of the company to resolve, and is a very separate issue altogether.
Reporter: People are very concerned about Beijing Liaison Office's intervention in this broadcast. How is there not a role for the Hong Kong Government?
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development: As I indicated just now, we would not comment on someone commenting on someone's opinion. To me, that is, first of all, I was not a participant in this meeting that was recorded. I don't know the authenticity of the tape, and so it would not be appropriate for me to comment on what was discussed or purported to be discussed in this tape recording.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Friday, October 26, 2012
Issued at HKT 14:55
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